Beware Mandella: Hall of Fame trainer sends Medici to Jeff Ruby
Turfway Park media notes by publicist Kevin Kerstein (photo of Medici schooling in the paddock at Turfway by Kevin Kerstein)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Thursday, March 19, 2026) – Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella hasn’t started a horse at Turfway Park in 24 years but will change that Saturday when Perry and Ramona Bass’ homebred Medici goes to post in the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III).
Medici, a striking bay son of Into Mischief, nearly captured his first stakes victory one month ago when he led nearly every step of the Pasadena Stakes before finishing a nose behind the fast-closing Greenwich Village.
“I thought at first he got the photo,” assistant trainer Taylor Cambra said. “He ran such a huge race, but I don’t think he saw (Greenwich Village) coming through his blinkers.”
Prior to that effort, Medici broke his maiden by going gate-to-wire in a one-mile turf maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
“I think his heart grows when he’s able to make the lead,” Cambra said. “His prior races show that when he’s on the front end.”
Medici will break from post No. 6 with jockey Mirco Demuro aboard.
“He’s gotten over this track well since he arrived earlier this week,” Cambra said. “He’s had plenty of breezes over the synthetic training track at Santa Anita. I know it’s not the same thing, but it’s similar. We’re confident he can handle the track.”
Mandella last started a horse at Turfway Park on Jan. 12, 2002, when Joke finished seventh in the Wishing Well Stakes. Overall, the Hall of Fame trainer has started seven horses at the Florence oval, recording two victories with Atticus in the 1996 Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII) and Fit to Lead in the 1995 Fairway Fun Stakes.
FAIR GROUNDS, TURFWAY PARK EXPERT HANDICAPPERS MAKE SELECTIONS FOR BAYOU BLUEGRASS PICK 5 – Fair Grounds and Turfway Park will team together Saturday to offer bettors a cross-track, all-stakes $1 Pick 5 that is anchored by the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) and $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby.
The following are suggested plays by expert handicappers from Fair Grounds and Turfway Park:
Joe Kristufek: “A Louisiana Derby win is a big ask for a debut winner, but the super athletic Emerging Market showed multiple gears first out and he ran as fast as any Kentucky Derby prospect has to date. To put it into contest, his 1 mile and 40 yards time of 1:39.11 was 1 2/5 seconds faster than early Kentucky Oaks favorite Zany ran in the Suncoast a race earlier and it was less than a second off Golden Juan’s track record. Renegade, the impressive winner of the Sam F. Davis, stopped the timer in 1:43 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles. I’m willing to take a chance that he could be something special and single him in a very contentious Bayou/Bluegrass Pick 5 sequence.”
Suggested Ticket: $180
New Orleans Classic – 2, 4
Bourbonette Oaks – 5, 6, 8
Fair Grounds Oaks – 1, 2, 5, 7, 8
Jeff Ruby Steaks – 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11
Louisiana Derby – 9
Kevin Kilroy: “I’ll take my stand with Life and Times in the New Orleans Classic, who had an excuse last out on the inside at Gulfstream, and Bella Ballerina in the Fair Grounds Oaks. I’m using prices in the Bourbonette and covering the logicals in the Jeff Rubey and Louisiana Derby. I’ll be open to chalk in three legs, spreading for a price in one, and using a 6-1 morning line single which should ensure my $120 ticket pays well.”
Suggested Ticket: $120
New Orleans Classic: 4
Bourbonette Oaks – 2, 6, 8, 9, 11
Fair Grounds Oaks – 5
Jeff Ruby Steaks – 1, 2, 5, 10, 11, 12
Louisiana Derby – 3, 5, 8, 9
Geoff Riggs: “My Bayou Bluegrass Pick 5 hinges on the most accomplished local runner in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, Fulleffort. Proven form over the surface is so important at Turfway Park. I absolutely love Great White and Full Effort was quickly closing ground on him late in the John Battaglia Memorial. A separator single in the Ruby gives me the ability to spread deep in the Bourbonette Oaks and use some interesting alternatives in the Fair Grounds trio of Grade II stakes to round out the wager.
Suggested Ticket: $144
New Orleans Classic – 2, 6
Bourbonette Oaks – 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Fair Grounds Oaks- 2, 5, 7
Jeff Ruby Steaks – 2
Louisiana Derby – 3, 5, 9
Fans can watch and wager on the Bayou Bluegrass Pick 5 on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
